Cheese Sauce for Fries Recipe
This creamy, flavorful cheese sauce is the perfect topping for fries or vegetables. Made with a smooth roux base and melted cheddar cheese, it incorporates garlic, onion, and mustard powders for depth, finished with a hint of hot sauce for a subtle kick. Easy to prepare on the stovetop, this versatile sauce is ideal for enhancing any snack or side dish.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: About 1 cup (enough for 4 servings) 1x
- Category: Sauce
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Cheese Sauce Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 tablespoon flour
- ½ cup whole milk (plus 2–3 tablespoons as needed)
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon ground mustard
- 4 ounces medium cheddar cheese, freshly shredded
- 1 teaspoon hot sauce (such as Frank’s)
Instructions
- Make the roux: Add the butter to a small saucepan over medium heat and melt it completely. Whisk in the flour to form a smooth paste and cook for 1-2 minutes while stirring frequently to prevent burning and develop the base flavor.
- Add milk and thicken: Pour ½ cup of whole milk into the roux, whisking constantly to combine. Continue whisking until the mixture thickens to the consistency of gravy. Then stir in the garlic powder, onion powder, and ground mustard to infuse flavor.
- Melt the cheese: Remove the saucepan from the heat and gradually add the shredded cheddar cheese, one handful at a time, stirring each addition until the cheese is fully melted and the mixture is smooth.
- Adjust thickness: If needed, return the pan to low heat to finish melting the cheese, being careful not to overcook the sauce to avoid a grainy texture. Add milk one tablespoon at a time to reach your preferred sauce thickness, remembering that it will thicken as it cools.
- Finish with hot sauce: Stir in the hot sauce to add a mild spicy kick, then serve the cheese sauce warm over fries or your favorite dish.
Notes
- Use freshly shredded cheese for the best melting quality and smooth sauce texture.
- Do not overheat the cheese sauce as it can cause the cheese to separate and become grainy.
- Add milk gradually to control the sauce thickness to your liking.
- This sauce pairs excellently with fries, steamed vegetables, or as a dip for snacks.
- You can adjust the amount of hot sauce to customize the heat level.
Keywords: cheese sauce, fries sauce, cheddar cheese sauce, homemade cheese sauce, easy cheese sauce recipe
Find it online: https://cookedbycleo.com/cheese-sauce-for-fries-recipe/
